In Japan, the evacuation order due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster, more than 11 years after the disaster, has been lifted in some places and residents have been allowed to return to their homes.
The 9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 caused a nuclear meltdown at the Daichi plant and radioactive material was released.
More than 300,000 people living near the plant were subjected to mandatory evacuation, while thousands voluntarily left the area.
More than 11 years later, the Japanese government lifted the evacuation order for the area and allowed entry.
Kazunori Iwayama, from the village of Katsurao, about 40 kilometers from the plant, said: “I feel that we have finally reached the starting line and can focus on getting things back to normal.”
According to the authorities, some homeowners are waiting for decontamination activities to take place in the area.
Before the nuclear disaster, the village had around 1,500 inhabitants.
By the end of this month, restrictions are also expected to be partially lifted in the villages of Futaba and Okuma.
